Kite



1957 T. D. HAGOOD ETAL 2,781,989

Filed Jan. 15. 1954 Y INVENTOR. HULL/4M 5. zone/v {5' rue/v45 a. #46000 72 W jam/)2. w flax/won United States Patent Ofiice 2,781,989 Patented Feb. 19, 1957 KlTE Thomas D. Hagood and William S. Roden, Albertville, Ala.

Application January 15, 1954, Serial No. 404,158 Claims. (Cl. 244-154 This invention relates to improvements in helicopter kites. t

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved helicopter kite which is simple in construction, which is attractive in appearance, and which more effectively simulates a helicopter in flight.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved helicopter kite which is inexpensive to fabricate, is rugged in construction, and is unusually stable in flight.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an improved helicopter kite constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is'a top plan view of the kite of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical cross'seetional view taken on the line 3- -3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a perspective view'of a modified form of helicopter kite according to the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figures 1, 2 and 3, 11 generally designates a helicopter kite which comprises a rigid plate member 12 which is V shaped to simulate in profile the fuselage of a helicopter, the plate member 12 being normally vertically positioned,

The kite is flown in the usual manner, and when in flight, the air currents act against the depending flaps 26 of the respective'vanes, causing the vanes 24 to rotate, causing the kite to simulate a helicopter in flight.

Referringrno'w' to Figure 4, the fuselage of the kite may comprise an elongated bar 12 of any suitable material, such as wood or the like, and the vane assembly 19 may be rotata'bly secured to the forward portion of the bar 12' by a vertical headed pin 16 The hub 21 of the vane assembly is rotatably supported on the upper portion of the pin 16 in the same manner as the hub is supported on the top portion 18 of the rod element 16 in Figures 1, 2 and 3. The kite tail 14 is attached to a staple 28 secured in the bottom of the rear end portion of the bar 12, and the kite cord 18 is fastened to a loop element 29 formed integrally on a metal band 30 secured on the forward end of the bar 12.

as shown in Figure 1, and having a fan shaped rear portion13 to which may be fastened a suitable kite tail 14, as shown, which may be made of sections of cloth strips, or similarfiexible, light material. An eye member 15 is provided on the bottom edge of the rear end portion 13 of body 12 for attaching the tail 14. The body 12 includes a substantially oval forward portion 16 having therein an irregularly circular opening 17. The forward portion 16 is connected to the rear portion 13 by a reduced intermediate portion 13.

Designated at 16 is a rod element which extends through the forward portion of the body 12, said rod element being formed at its lower end with a loop 17 to which a kite cord 18 is adapted to be attached. As shown in Figure 3, the rod element 16' is inclined rearwardly with respect to the longitudinal axis of the body 12. The top end of the rod element 16, shown at 18, is perpendicular, and thus makes an obtuse'angle with the remainder of the rod element 16. Rotatably mounted on the vertical top portion 18'of the rod element is the rotary vane assembly 19. The vane assembly 19 comprises a hub 21 which is generally circular in shape and 1 which is rotatably supported on the rod portion18 between respective washers 21 and 22; the top end of the of the vanes 24 are arcuately shaped, as shown at 25,

and each vane is formed with a depending flap 26 at one outer radial edge portion thereof.

While certain'specific embodiments of an improved helicopter kite have been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. in a helicopter kiteyan elongated plate like fuselage having an oval forward portion, a fan shaped rear portion, a vertical rod traversing said forward portion, said rod having an upper portion projecting above said forward portion and a lower portion projecting below said forward portion, a kite line loop on the lower portion of therod, and a bladed rotor journalled on the upper portion of the rod, said rear portion being devoid,

of a rotor. g a a 2. In a helicopter kite, an elongated plate like fuselage having an oval forward portion, a fan shaped rear portion, a vertical rod traversing said forward portion, said,

.rod having an upperportion projecting above said forward portion and a lower portion projecting below said forward portion, a kite ,line loop on the lower portion of the rod, and a bladed rotor journailed on the upper portion of the rod, said rear portion being devoid of a rotor, said rear portion having a lower edge, and a kite tail attaching eye on said lower edge.

3. In a helicopter kite, an elongated plate like fuselage having an oval forward portion, a fan shaped rear portion, a vertical rod traversing said forward portion, said rod having an upper portion projecting above said forward portion and a lower portion projecting below said forward portion, a kite line loop on the lower portion rod having an upper portion projecting. above said forward portion and a lower portion projecting below said forward portion, a kite line loop on'the lower portion of the rod,

and a bladed rotor journalled on the upperportion of the ,7

rod, saidrear portion being devoid of a rotor, said fuselage'. having an' intermediate portion of reduced width extending between and connecting said forward, and rear portions. I 1 .l

5. In a helicopter kite, an elongatedplate' like fuselage having an oval forward portion, a fan shaped rear portion, a vertical rod traversing said forward portion, said rod having an upper portion projecting above said 'forward portion and a lower portion projecting below said forward portion, a kite line loop on the lower portion of 3 4 the rod, and a bladed rotor journalled on the upper por- FOREIGN PATENTS tion of the rod, said rear portion being devoid of a rotor, I said forward portion having an opening therethrough 420,324 Italy May 1947 traversed by aportion of said rod. 815,811 France P 1937 References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,864,197 Johnson June 21, 1932 2,472,290 Fernstrurn June 7, 1949 

